Would love to get some feedback from the experts. I'll be staying in Florence for 4 nights the last week of October. Of the 3 full days, one of them will be a day trip to Siena. For my 2 full days in Florence, I'd like to see a little more of the city than I did on my only other visit, which was a cruise stop. I am thinking of one day (maybe plus another morning) in the historic center (my hotel is a few minutes walk from Piazza della Signoria), and the other day (or part of it) on the Oltrarno side. I'm travelling solo, so I can be flexible. But I like to at least start with a plan (however much it may change when I get there).
I do want to spend some time in the Uffizi, and that would be the only thing I expect to pre-book for a particular time (David will have to wait for another trip - I can be satisfied with the replica this time) - would you suggest booking right at opening time or closer to closing time?
Here are the things I would like to see:
Historic center (in order of importance):
Uffizi Gallery
Santa Croce
San Lorenzo and the Medici Chapel
Mercato Centrale (maybe around lunch time for a short, or long, rest?)
Duomo and Baptistry outside only
Bargello Museum
Oltrarno:
Ponte Vecchio
Pitti Palace / Boboli Gardens
Piazzale Michelangelo (for sunset view)
Lunch or dinner - restaurant recommendations?
As I'm looking at the lists it seems like I could move Uffizi to the second list and do that in the morning before crossing to Oltrarno.
I know this will be a LOT of walking, and I'm wondering if there will be an opportunity to use the bus lines to give me a break (I thinking particularly about up the hill to Piazzale Michelangelo - I see buses 12 and 13 go up and down that hill and seem to go back to the main bus station).
I would also love any recommendations for the evenings - I'm pretty much an early bird so I'm thinking nice strolls ending with a dinner, back to the hotel by 10.
Really appreciate your feedback!!
Andrea